Abstract

Motor imagery after stroke: where next?

Author(s): Nikhil Sharma

There is considerable interest in using motor imagery to improve recovery after stroke. While motor imagery has a strong neuroscientific rationale, there are significant obstacles to its use and gaps in our knowledge that need to be addressed. Together these may explain the inconsistent results seen in recent randomized placebo-controlled trials of motor imagery training in stroke patients. The first section of this article discusses why assessment of motor imagery ability is crucial when applying motor imagery to stroke patients. Then in the context of current models of recovery after stroke, the second section highlights gaps in the neuroscientific rationale behind the use of motor imagery training. The third section explores the recent randomized trials of motor imagery training in stroke patients and discusses why the findings are inconsistent. Finally, I propose future areas of research that may prove fruitful and will allow motor imagery to fulfill its potential.